More than 100 people bundled up to take part in the Coldest Night of the Year walk in Simcoe on Saturday.
The purpose of the walk – held in several communities across Canada – is to raise money for “charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness.”
Local participants surpassed the goal of $50,000, money that will help Youth Unlimited YFC Norfolk run its programs.
“It’s just awesome,” Dan Avey, director at Youth Unlimited, said in announcing the fundraising result to the crowd gathered outside the Superstore on the Queensway in Simcoe.
“What a great afternoon. . . for a fun walk for a very serious cause,” Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi-Ann Brady told the crowd prior to the start of the walk.
Brady said homelessness and hunger are serious problems across the province, citing a lack of housing, specifically affordable housing.
“You don’t have to be homeless to be hungry,” she said.
Avey said the walk is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the youth centre, which hosts an average of 50 – and as many as 70 – youths each week. The center, located on Union Street, offers a drop-in program as well as a free lunch program each Wednesday.
One of the newest programs offered is Teen Link Wellness where participants learn about subjects such as mental health, stress management and first aid. The hope is they will share the information with their peers.
There were 132 people, 22 teams and 19 volunteers signed up for Saturday’s fundraiser in Simcoe. Walkers could set up their own routes or take part in the main event that started at the Superstore and went down the Queensway.
The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise team brought in $11,386 (as of most recent total available), with team member Chris Kindy raising more than $5,000.
Kindy, who said he would go shirtless in the walk if he reached his fundraising goal, did just that on Saturday, posting a message on social media
“Thank you friends and family. $5,180 raised for #CNOY2023. So I walked topless for 2km as promised with @NorfolkSunrise. Let’s end #homelessness. Everyone deserves a hot meal and home. It’s 2023.”
Avey was the biggest individual fundraiser, bringing in $5,880 at last count.
